little green dress

i've been having some trouble getting motivated to get fit and healthier in 2010.  normally, this is the one time of year i feel excited and eager to start eating better and get to the gym.  granted, that motivation never seems to last too long, but at least i'm typically off to a good start in the new year.

so i've been slothing along, not eating horribly, but certainly not working out and not really caring all that much.  today, however, reality walked up and bitch-slapped me in a most jolting manner.  the thing is, i have 3 weddings this spring and fall.  the september wedding is on a gorgeous resort in mexico and i just booked my flight the other night.  thinking of the beach and swimming in the ocean should have been motivation, right?  no, not really.  the other two weddings are in may.  the first is taking place on the lovely island of corolla, on the outer banks of north carolina.  again - beach, sun, swimming, etc. = motivation, right?  nah.  and then there's the other wedding over memorial day weekend at a spa/resort here in the midwest.  great venue, but no beach, no swim wear needed, no scorching sun, so the least motivating, right?  wrong.  for this particular wedding i am a bridesmaid.  and today i got the link to the picture of the dress i will be wearing.  behold:

i apologize for the crappy photo quality, but the website wouldn't let me save the image, so i had to take a picture of it with my phone.  regardless, you get the idea.  and don't get me wrong - i love the dress, i really do.  i just don't know that i love the idea of me in that dress.  right now i'm more inclined to feel comfortable in something of this style:

that's right - a flowy caftan variety garment that covers all the wobbly bits and requires no spanx.  ugly, i know. 

and so that's my new motivation - operation bridesmaid dress.  i think i may print out a picture of that dress and hang it on my fridge as a reminder (the bridesmaid dress, not the caftan).  or maybe i can have my roommates padlock the fridge....  or perhaps i can hire jillian michaels (of "biggest loser" fame) to come live with me for the next 3 months and whip me into shape....

any ideas or suggestions for fun workouts or motivational tips are welcome.  :)

fighting the good fight....and losing

well, i sucked spectacularly at nablopomo.  but i'm ok with that because at least it reminded me that i do indeed still have a blog and have things that i like to write about now and then.  so while i managed to fail the challenge of writing 30 posts in 30 days, i hope to write on a more regular basis.

therefore, in keeping with the theme of this blog (fights i've lost), here are a few examples of recent challenges:

me v. the outlet mall:  winner - outlet mall.  how could i resist 50% off at banana republic??

me v. the boss:  winner - boss.  there is no point in arguing with someone who is more concerned about you having your outlook calendar up to date than what you are actually doing in your job.  i basically just forfeited this one for the sake of my own sanity.

me v. the fudge:  winner - fudge.  this was no contest.  having been sent back to chicago with a pound of my mom's delicious homemade fudge, i have been powerless to resist. 

me v. the traffic:  winner - traffic.  it took 6 hours to get to indianapolis on wednesday night (usually a 3 hour drive).  thank god jill was at the end of the journey with wine!

me v. the tree lights:  winner - me, barely.  after an hour of painstaking light-arranging on my parents' christmas tree, the bottom layer of lights went out.  i almost threw the tree out the front door. luckily, after jiggling them a few times they came back on.  i hope that's not a fire hazard.... mom and dad - keep a close eye on that!

me v. the cw:  winner - the cw.  (this one i blame fully on my roommate)  the cw is the network that shows shows like "gossip girl", "90210", "melrose place", etc.  i have gotten sucked in to 2 shows on this channel but have vowed not to get started on any more!

me v. the happy hour:  winner - duh.  do i even have to answer this one?

me v. the allergies:  winner - allergies.  i cannot seem to breathe like a normal human for even one day. 

me v. the birds:  winner - birds.  no matter where i park, they find my car and turn it into target practice.

me v. the parking:  winner - me.  i do pretty much rock at wedging my car into the tiniest spaces.

me v. the christmas shopping:  winner - right now the unfinished shopping is winning, but i'm pretty sure i'm going to end up being victorious and having it done by the end of the week.

me v. the work:  winner - work.  speaking of, i better get back to it! 

"it wasn't pretty but you did it. and now you'll do it again."

yesterday i went for my first training session with a personal trainer.  i've never been one to spend money on something like this in the past, but i've gotten to the point where i feel like i really need someone to help me figure out a good workout that will give me results, so i decided to take the plunge a buy a few sessions to get me on track. 

so, i got there yesterday and walked up to the counter to tell the person working that i was there for a training session with kevin. and of course, kevin happens to be the most gorgeous trainer they have on staff.  doh.  i really should have asked for a less attractive trainer so i could have more comfortably discussed my weight (ouch), my eating and drinking habits (waaaay too much alcohol), and the dreaded BMI (anyone want to talk obesity?!).  but, i was honest, figuring a) i'm not there because kevin and i met on match.com and are trying to date, b) if i'm not honest, he can't put together an appropriate plan for me and c) he's going to see me sweat, groan and possibly cry in the coming weeks, so i don't think being honest up front is the worst experience he's going to have with me.

all in all it went well, though it was more of an assessment than a regular training session so that he could measure my endurance levels, balance & flexibility, etc.  officially, my training starts on saturday at 2pm.  pray for me. 

p.s. - the title of this blog is a quote from dear kevin after seeing me do a particularly heinous series of drills.  bless his heart.

monday meme

(note: this was supposed to post on monday - hence the title - but it failed to work somehow, so i am back dating it and will post another blog today)

1.What is your current obsession ?



Researching MBA programs, stressing out about my first personal trainer session (eeek) and making plans for my annual Christmas visit to London!


2. What are you wearing today?

Black pants, green fitted sweater, black heels (the higher the better!)



3. What’s for dinner?


Greek food!  I'm going out in Greektown for a friend's birthday.  Opa!




4. What’s the last thing you bought?


Beer and a turkey burger at the bar last night; before that - personal training sessions.  Those things don't really go together, do they??




5. What are you listening to right now?


Ryan Adams via my co-worker's Pandora streaming on her computer.  I love sitting next to Kim!


6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?

No tag, this was self-inflicted.  But, I did see it on Gary's blog and I think he is quite fabulous.


7. If you could have a house, totally paid for, fully furnished, anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?

London.


8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?

comfy skirts, capris, flip flops


9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

Italy


10. Which language do you want to learn?

Espanol


11. What’s your favorite quote?


"Expect nothing and you will rarely be disappointed" is sort of my mantra, but I also love this one from Albert Einstein: "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
You said it, Al!


12. Who do you want to meet right now?

Peyton Manning so I can give him a big kiss for beating the Patriots last night!


13. What is your favorite color?

Blue.


14. What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?

Black fleece pullover


15. What is your dream job?

To be the head of a corporate foundation


16. What's your favorite magazine?

In Style


17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?

Probably a mani/pedi and a massage


18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?

Being able to see people's cracks when they bend over.  Some of us are just not meant to wear super low-cut jeans!  Also, white socks with black shoes. 


19. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon?

Jessica Biel.  Ick.


20. What kind of haircut do you prefer?

Longer than shoulder length with layers


21. What are you going to do after this?

Leaving to meet my friend for lunch - yay!


22. What are your favorite movies?

Love Actually, Sex & the City, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind


23. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?

Aquage shine spray, C.O. Bigelow lip gloss, OPI nail polish


24. What inspires you ?

People who have gone through loss, illness and other issues and still keep a positive attitude and keep living their lives


25. Give us three styling tips that always work for you?

Baby oil on your body right after you turn off the shower, before you dry off - keeps skin soft all day; hair powder is genius on days when you're running late and don't have time to wash your hair; seche vite top coat over your self done nail polish will make your nails look like you've had a professional manicure or pedicure


26. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?

Borrow from my roommate!


27. Coffee or tea?

Coffee


28. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?

Call friends to get together and drink wine; take a long bath; go to yoga


29. What is the meaning of your name?

I had to google this.  Apparently it can mean brave and/or courageous.  Who knew?!


30. Which other blogs do you love visiting?

The links listed on my blog plus other random finds that I see on other people's blogs


31. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?

Chocolate Chip Cookies


32. Favorite Season?

Fall.


33. If I come to your house now, what would you cook for me?

Hahahaha!  Trust me, you wouldn't want me to do that.  We would order sushi.


34. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?

Tell them directly that you won't put up with their actions anymore.


35. How do you calm yourself down when you are agitated or angry?

Music, venting to friends/family


36.Who is the modern ideal girl: The one who knows how to shop, dress and enjoy, or the one who is simple but manages the house, kids and herself well?

My sister. 

good intentions pave the road to the bar

yesterday morning i had a conversation with self about getting in shape.  i'm always complaining about wishing i could lose a little weight or wanting to get back into those smaller pants, but i have been very bad about actually making a strong and continued effort to do these things.  so, yesterday morning i packed my gym bag and vowed to stop at the gym i've been wanting to check out on my way home from work.  i even kept myself psyched about it all day, up to the time i was getting off the elevator and walking toward the exit.  and then it happened.  a few of my co-workers were leaving ahead of me and asked if i wanted to go for a drink to celebrate our colleague's birthday.  and so i did.  and then i went to dinner with them at a mexican restaurant which boasts to be home to "the killer margarita" so you can just imagine how the night ended up. 

maybe tonight i will sleep in my workout clothes and see if that helps....

it's 11/11, make a wish!

many of you have heard people say that when the clock strikes 11:11, you get to make a wish. (well, unless you're like me and think you should make four wishes, one for each number 1 and for better odds that at least one of the four will come true)  so today, in honor of the date 11/11, i'm going to make one big wish, but i haven't quite decided what that is yet. 

what are you wishing for today?

the plus one conundrum

me:  so did you see the email about the wedding in september?

self:  yup.  mexico!  maybe we can lose some weight and get ourselves a little spray tan by then, eh?

me:  yes, we'll do that.  and get a great dress for the wedding and maybe stay a couple of extra days for fun!

self:  and have you thought about what else comes with this fabulous time?

me:  margaritas?

self:  yes.  and?

me:  beach wedding?

self:  yes....

me:  sun and food and music and an all-around good time?  and celebrating with our friend S? and maybe some really good guacamole?  ooh!  and maybe we can go back to fajita republic and --

self:  yeah, yeah, all of that.  think!  you're not thinking clearly.

me:  what?!  what are you talking about?  money issues?  because we have plenty of time to save up and the place is ALL INCLUSIVE!  fabulous!

self:  (big sigh and even bigger eyeroll)  two words - plus. one. 

me:  ohhhhhhhh..... that......

self:  yes, THAT.

me:  well, we go to weddings and stuff all the time without a plus one.  no big deal.

self:  we go to weddings where we have large groups of close friends or family who are also attending.  no need to have a plus one at those things, in fact we usually prefer it that way so we don't have to babysit a date and make sure he's having fun.  this is different.

me:  i cannot believe i'm going to say this, but you might be right. 

self:  holy crap.  put it on the calendar!  you admitted i was right!

me:  oh, calm down.  ok, let's think about this.  destination wedding where a few people i know will be invited, but may or may not attend.  bride and groom will be crazy busy the whole time.  i'm good at talking to people and having fun even if i don't really know the group, but for a whole weekend it would be great to have someone there with us who we know... 

self:  no kidding.  it gets pretty boring hanging out with just you. 

me:  shhhhhh.  ok, so what do we do?

self:  we have no choice.  the plus one challenge is on like donkey kong.  surely to god even you can find someone in the course of the next 10 months. 

me: gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.  sometimes i think you root for us to fail.

self:  (feigning shock) i would never do such a thing. 

me:  right....

self:  i'll be your personal cheerleader for this one.  just do not accept any help from our friend ann.  bless her heart, she tries - well, sorta.  mostly she likes to try to embarrass us and hook us up with the ickiest guys in the bar.  remember that one guy who started petting your hair?!  eeeek!!!

me:  yeah, that was pretty disturbing.  gross.  ok, so no help from ann unless she's going to actually help and not make a mockery of this. 

self:  agreed.  and anyone is fair game, so help from friends, roommates - ok, again with the exception of tim - work colleagues, etc. whoever has single, decent, available guys they can at least introduce us to must be drafted.

me:  ok, i guess we'll see how it goes.

self:  we'll do great!  just wait and see!

me:  wow.  that was actually supportive.  amazing.

self:  well, i figure if we don't succeed, there's always the option to rent an escort.

me:  and just when i thought i had you in my corner.... 

self:  let the games begin.